George W. Bush might have relied on Google for his paintings, according to an art critic.
The former US president unveiled his personal art collection last week in a special interview on the Today Show, as a means of opening his new exhibit, "The Art of Leadership: A President's Personal Diplomacy," at the Bush Library.
He told his daughter Jenna Bush Hager during the interview, he drew inspiration for his newfound passion for painting from Winston Churchill, who famously took up the hobby in his later years.
However, art critic and filmmaker Greg Allen alleges that Bush drew more from simple Google Image searches for sources for his work, the Verge reported.
As Allen wrote in a blog post earlier this week, that Bush based his paintings on the literally first-to-surface, easiest-to-find photos of his subjects.
He claimed that Bush apparently did not tap the enormous archive of photos, taken by the professionals who followed him every day for eight years, which are contained in his giant library. Instead, it seems, he Googled the world leaders he made such impactful relationships with himself, and took the first straight-on headshot he saw.
Indeed, as Animal New York points out, the source photos for several of the portraits - including those for Vladimir Putin, Angela Merkel, and Hamid Karzai - can all be found fairly easily on Google and even Bing, with several popping up on Wikipedia.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
